Video transcript
Dancing with D'Arts - 00. Introduction - a professional learning program for teachers

[music playing]

VIRGINIA FERRIS: Hi. My name is Gin, and I'm an independent choreographer, artistic director and dance tutor. In this 60-minute online training, we'll share some simple strategies to support you in creating a dance program for your students with a diverse range of needs.

During this training, you will learn how to choreograph a dance based on creating simple sequences of movements for students with diverse range of abilities, how to engage and keep the attention of students throughout the rehearsals, how to choose music, find props, create costumes for performances, and finally, how to overcome common challenges when building a dance program.

The suggested activities all reflect the elements of the dance syllabus, such as stimulus. Where do you get your ideas from, whether it's visual, whether it's the music, whether it's other people's ideas or a word stimulus? The space. The space in which you travel, you move, your perform, whether you're using pathways or levels or locomotor movement. The time. The timing, the duration of your performance, the beats, the percussion, the tempo.

The relationships. The relationships that you have with other performers in the room or in the space. The relationship you'll have with the music. And finally, the dynamics. The contrast. The variation to make your performance really fabulous. Some of these activities may be too long or complex for your students, others too simple. Think of these activities as templates for you to modify to the group of students you teach.

Remember that you work at your own pace. You know and understand your students and what you can achieve. Don't be too hard on yourself. When creating movement for performance, don't expect the world. It's often the process of creating in which you get the most rewards and achievements. So let's get started.